National powerhouses. Championship games and pursuits. From high school showdowns to collegiate clashes, Durham is set for a thrilling fall season of competition.
Read below to see what you can expect this fall in the Bull City.
NCCU Fall Athletics
Football
North Carolina Central University has firmly established itself as one of the premier HBCU football programs in the nation. In 2022, the Eagles made headlines by defeating Deion Sanders’ Jackson State in the Cricket Celebration Bowl—a victory that head coach Trei Oliver breaks down in this Discover Durham podcast.
Coming off another strong 8-4 2025 season, the Eagles are poised for another standout year. The preseason MEAC poll is NCCU picked to finish second, just a few points behind South Carolina State. Ten Eagles were named preseason All-MEAC selections, including the MEAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, wide receiver Chance Peterson.
Don’t miss the action at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium this fall, with their home slate beginning on Saturday, September 5 vs Elizabeth City State. Other key games in Durham include the Aggie-Eagle Classic vs North Carolina A&T on September 12, and NCCU Homecoming vs William & Mary on October 10.
Cross Country
North Carolina Central University’s men’s and women’s cross country teams enter the 2026 season with strong momentum following standout performances at the 2025 MEAC Cross Country Championships, with both teams finishing third. The women’s team’s season was also highlighted by an overall victory at the Cedric Walker HBCU Challenge.
Volleyball
NCCU volleyball kicks off its home season on September 1 against Gardner-Webb. The eagles made great strides in 2025 under first-year head coach Jonathan Paulk, including a 7-7 record in MEAC play and a 6-2 record in home matches. In total, the Eagles will have 12 regular-season home matches at McDougald-McLendon Arena, which can also be streamed on ESPN+.
While you’re cheering on NCCU athletics this fall, you will want to explore the campus and learn more about NCCU and its robust history. Check out all of the best places to explore, eat and drink with this Discover Durham guide to NCCU and Fayetteville Street.
Duke Fall Athletics
Football
Duke football heads into the 2026 season riding the momentum of four consecutive winning seasons and their first ACC title since 1989. The Blue Devils will play six of their 12 games at Wallace Wade Stadium, kicking off the home slate against Tulane on Saturday, September 5. Other key games include hosting North Carolina on Saturday, October 17 and a Friday night showdown with Clemson on November 20. Fans won’t want to miss the upgraded game day experience at Wallace Wade Stadium — including the Devils Deck and the Bull City Huddle, both located inside the stadium.
Cross Country
Duke’s men’s and women’s cross country teams enter the 2026 season ready to climb to the top. In 2025, the Duke Men’s Cross Country team placed 9th in the NCAA Southeast Regional, and the women’s team placed 6th.. The Blue Devils will compete in five regular season races this fall, before competing in the ACC Championships and NCAA Southeast Regional.
Duke Golf
Duke men’s and women’s golf will both compete in four tournaments this fall. The women’s team will not play in any home matches this fall, but the Duke men’s team will host the Rod Myers Invitational on September 21-2, hosted at the Duke University Golf Club.
Field Hockey
Duke field hockey returns for the 2026 season after a 13-8 2025 season that saw them advance to the NCAA quarterfinals. This year, the Blue Devils will host 10 home games at Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium, beginning with an exhibition against Wake Forest on August 18th.
Men’s Soccer
Duke men’s soccer competes this fall after its 10-4-6 season in 2025, which led to an NCAA Tournament appearance for the fifth consecutive year, where they advanced to the third round. The team will play 13 home games this season at Koskinen Stadium. Their first matchup is an exhibition game against UNC Wilmington in Durham on August 8th.
Women’s Soccer
Duke women’s soccer’s followed a historic 2024 season with another one for the books, reaching the women’s final four for the second consecutive season behind a 17-5-1 overall record. This season, the Blue Devils look to continue their success, with eight home games at Koskinen Stadium this season.
Volleyball
Duke volleyball enters the 2026 season looking to build momentum under first-year head coach Ahen Kim. The Blue Devils will host 14 matches at the iconic Cameron Indoor Stadium this season. The season kicks off with an exhibition match against NCCU on August 19.
When you’re supporting the seven Duke Athletics teams competing this fall, make the most of your game day experience by checking out some of the campus staples, like Sarah P. Duke Gardens, the Nasher Museum of Art and the Duke Basketball Museum and Hall of Fame. You can also grab a bite to eat at Dain’s Place or Cosmic Cantina, amongst the other numerous delicious restaurants in the Ninth Street area. If you’re looking for a place to stay near campus, look no further than the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club, JB Duke Hotel or Lodge at Duke Medical Center.
Read the Discover Durham Guide to Ninth Street and Duke University for more information on must-see spots on Duke’s campus, delicious spots to grab a bite, where to stay and more.
Shaw Fall Athletics
The Durham Sports Commission is proud to partner with Shaw Athletics to host a portion of their fall athletic competitions in Durham. Durham County Memorial Stadium will host four of Shaw Men’s Soccer’s home games, four of Shaw Women’s Soccer’s home games and all five of Shaw Football’s home games.
Check out the full Shaw Athletics calendar here to see when you can see them in Durham >
And if you’re heading to Durham County Memorial Stadium, make sure to visit Durham’s Roxboro Street near the stadium. Stop by delicious Mexican restaurants like Restaurante Guanajuato and Super Taqueria, both within a couple of miles of the stadium. If you need a break from the heat, stop by La Monarca Michoacana and try one of their over 80 flavors of ice cream. If you’re looking for an activity for the whole family, the Museum of Life and Science is an interactive science museum that is less than a mile from Durham County Memorial Stadium.
For more information on North Durham, check out this Discover Durham Guide to North Durham.
The McLendon Experience
Taking place October 1-2 in Durham, The McLendon Experience is a dynamic two-day conference hosted by the Durham Sports Commission, designed to empower the next generation of sports industry leaders. Hosted at the Durham Convention Center, this event features hands-on workshops, inspiring keynote speakers, and meaningful networking opportunities with professionals and organizations from across the sports world.
This isn’t just a conference—it’s a movement to Unite, Uplift, and Unleash young professionals who are ready to make their mark in sports.
CIAA Football Championship
The Road to Durham begins now!
The 2026 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Football Championship Weekend is set to take place at Durham County Memorial Stadium on November 13-14, 2026. This highly anticipated matchup will bring together the top teams in the CIAA to battle it out for the conference title, right here in the Bull City on Saturday. The third and fourth ranked teams in the conference will compete in the Friday Night Blitz, on November 13. Get ready for an unforgettable weekend of championship football and community celebration!
High School Athletics
Durham Public Schools have a total of six different schools competing across nine different sports, which include cross country, football, men’s soccer, volleyball, field hockey, women’s tennis, women’s golf, gymnastics and cheerleading. The six schools – Hillside, Jordan, Northern, Southern, Durham School of the Arts and Riverside – compete in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA), and their seasons run from late August to early November.
In addition, Durham Academy and Trinity School of Durham and Chapel Hill compete in the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association (NCISAA).
Make sure to get out and support our local high school athletes in Durham this fall! Visit the DPS athletic calendar and NCISAA athletic calendar to check out when they play in Durham.
Stay up to date with all sporting events in Durham by checking out our event calendar, following us @durhamncsports across all social platforms and subscribing to our email newsletter.